Which rout will USC's Woods choose to run?

Nov. 27, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Trojans receiver Robert Woods can't come down with a pass against Hawaii. Woods had 73 receptions in 2012, but that is considered a disappointment after he caught 111 passes last year as a sophomore. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Trojans receiver Robert Woods can't come down with a pass against Hawaii. Woods had 73 receptions in 2012, but that is considered a disappointment after he caught 111 passes last year as a sophomore. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

USC CAREER RANKINGS

CATCHES

1. Robert Woods, 249

2. Dwayne Jarrett, 216

3. Keary Colbert, 207

4. Kareem Kelly, 204

5. Johnnie Morton, 201

RECEIVING YARDS

1. Johnnie Morton, 3,201

2. Dwayne Jarrett, 3,138

3. Kareem Kelly, 3,104

4. Steve Smith, 3,019

5. Keary Colbert, 2,964

6. Robert Woods, 2,897

RECEIVING TDS

1. Dwayne Jarrett, 41

2. Robert Woods, 32

2. Mike Williams, 30

4. Marqise Lee, 25

5. Johnnie Morton, 23

(tie) R. Jay Soward, 23

USC SINGLE-SEASON RANKINGS

CATCHES

1. Marqise Lee, 112 (in 2012)

2. Robert Woods, 111 (in 2011)

3. Keyshawn Johnson, 102 (in 1995)

4. Mike Williams, 95 (in 2003)

5. Dwayne Jarrett, 91 (in 2005)

RECEIVING YARDS

1. Marqise Lee, 1,680 (in 2012)

2. Johnnie Morton, 1,520 (in 1993)

3. Keyshawn Johnson, 1,434 (in 1995)

4. Mike Williams, 1,314 (in 2003)

5. Robert Woods, 1,292 (in 2011)

RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS

1. Dwayne Jarrett, 16 (in 2005)

(tie) Mike Williams, 16 (in 2003)

3. Robert Woods, 15 (in 2011)

4. Marqise Lee, 14 (in 2012)

(tie) Johnnie Morton, 14 (in 1993)

(tie) Mike Williams, 14 (in 2002)

LOS ANGELES – Given his reputation as one of the most talented receivers in college football, USC's Robert Woods has grown accustomed to tight coverage. Just not from his roommate.

"I'm going to talk to him 24/7, try to get in his ear,'' Marqise Lee said.

The subject? Whether Woods will stay at USC for his senior season or jump to the NFL. Had things gone as anticipated this year, it's doubtful that any amount of coaxing from Lee (or anyone else) could convince Woods to stay. But instead of a showcase, Woods' 2012 season turned into something of a nightmare.

How does a receiver go from being an All-American, perhaps even a dark-horse Heisman Trophy candidate, to second-class status on his own team? That's essentially what happened to Woods this year, through no fault of his own, and that's why a redemptive senior season might be in Woods' best interests.

"I've got to see what will benefit me more, staying or leaving,'' Woods said.

That won't be easy to determine. Which Woods would NFL teams remember on draft day? It could be the one who toyed with opposing defenses in 2011 and caught 111 passes, or the one with only one 100-yard game this season, and with this cringe-worthy stat line vs. Arizona State: two catches for minus-3 yards.

The next few weeks will be filled with contemplation and advice-seeking for Woods. He said he will likely request a draft-status evaluation from the NFL - common for top college juniors - and he has until mid-January to decide whether to return to USC or make himself available for the draft.

''I want what is best for him,'' USC receivers coach Tee Martin said. ''I want what's best for 'SC too, but it's his life and his decision, him and his family. He's one of the best receivers in college football. We know that. Hopefully, I think, the NFL scouts know that and NFL teams know that.

''I think he's going to make an educated decision. Whichever way he does, I'm going to support him.''

Had he been eligible a year ago, Woods might have been a top-10 draft pick.

As a sophomore, he caught 111 balls for 1,292 yards and 15 touchdowns and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver. This year, with a bowl game remaining, Woods has 73 catches for 813 yards and 11 touchdowns.

What happened? No single thing. By nature of his fantastic sophomore season, Woods naturally drew more attention from opponents this season, but the main issue is probably more internal than external.

Lee, Woods' teammate since their days at Serra High in Gardena, emerged as a national star this season. Lee has 112 catches for 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns and is a Biletnikoff finalist. The attention of quarterback Matt Barkley, which Woods had last season, seemed to fall on Lee in 2012.

While Woods is a smooth, smart, good-hands possession receiver who plays bigger than his listed 6-foot-1, Lee is a jitterbug, a burner with the potential to turn every short pass into a highlight-reel touchdown.

Did Barkley lock in on Lee, to Woods' personal detriment? It's worth noting that on Saturday against Notre Dame, with Max Wittek playing in place of the injured Barkley, Woods had seven catches for 92 yards and one touchdown. In 11 games with Barkley, Woods had more than six catches only three times.

Asked what was different about the Notre Dame game, for him, Woods hesitated for a moment.

"I was still getting open,'' Woods said. "I just finally got a chance to get the ball in my hands. Other than that, it was just that Max was looking at me a little more, and squeezing in some of those throws.''

That's not necessarily a dig at Barkley, but in a separate line of questioning, Woods said that being able to play with Wittek - Barkley's presumptive replacement in 2013 - would "definitely have an impact'' on his NFL decision because Wittek "has a strong arm and he can get me the ball.''

Should Woods also consider recent history? It hasn't been kind to receivers who left USC early.

After an All-America season in 2003, Mike Williams (unsuccessfully) tried to leave as a sophomore because of a court ruling. Williams had to sit out a year and was drafted No. 10 overall by Detroit in 2005, but played in only 56 NFL games before he was released by Seattle last summer.

After consecutive All-America seasons, Dwayne Jarrett left after his junior season. Carolina picked Jarrett in the second round in 2007, but he caught only 35 passes in the NFL and retired this year at age 25.

Of course, Woods isn't those two. Also, Barkley and T.J. McDonald returned as seniors this year, and each probably had his draft status hurt by the Trojans' disappointing 7-5 record. In the middle of this season, Woods said he hadn't thought about the NFL. Now, the pending decision is creeping into his mind.

Woods will get plenty of reminders from his living room. During the school year, he lives with sophomore and junior teammates who want to see him return next season. Woods smiled when asked about Lee's upcoming recruiting and noted that "I'm going to have to see him all the time.''

Lee has less than two months to close the sale with Woods. His talking points, no doubt, will be about bouncing back, about showing NFL teams that the Woods of 2011 is the one in which they should believe.

"I let Matt and T.J. decide on their own. Now it's my time to step in,'' Lee said. "Hopefully it works.''

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